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 Induction
Information
Elected to Hall of Fame by Baseball Writers in 2006, Player -
400 votes on 520 ballots - 76.9%Born: January 8, 1953, in
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
ML Debut: 5/9/1976
Primary Position: Relief Pitcher
Bats: R Throws: R Primary Uniform #: 42
Played For: Chicago Cubs (1976-1980), St. Louis Cardinals
(1981-1984), Atlanta Braves (1985-1986, 1988)
Post-Season: 1982 NLCS, 1982 World Series
Awards: All-Star (6): 1977-1981,
1984
Bio
Bruce Sutter was on the fringes of professional baseball, a
struggling minor league pitcher with an injured arm, until he
received a gift that changed his life forever. A new pitch, a
split-fingered fastball, was taught to him by a wise, old man of the
game, and in a matter of years, Sutter took this new weapon and
blazed a trail as one of the game's top relief pitchers. A six-time
All-Star, Sutter was the 1979 National League Cy Young Award winner
and he was on the mound for the last six outs of the Cardinals' 1982
World Series championship. He saved at least 20 games in nine
consecutive seasons, and set an NL mark with 45 saves in 1984. The
right-hander retired following an arm injury, with 300 saves and a
2.84 ERA to his credit.
Quote
"It's unhittable, unless he hangs it, and he never does. It's
worse than trying to hit a knuckleball."
— Dick Williams, on Sutter's split-finger fastball
Did You Know... that Bruce Sutter is the first major
league pitcher elected to the Hall of Fame who never started at
least one game?
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